“I love you, Jackie.”
“Love you too, Bella.”
She left early the next morning, ahead of the moving van, so she could be there when they arrived. Bella waved to the neighbors as she got out of her car. They had grown used to the sight of Bella’s Audi in the drive. The movers arrived and made quick work of setting her things up, and then asking for a picture with Jack before they left - it wasn’t every day they met an astronaut!
She settled in at Jack’s, adjusting to her new routine. Waking each day, making breakfast for everyone, taking the girls off to school while Jack went off to NASA, where a small, trusted group continued working with them, under the same quarantine protocol. Morning dog walks provided her daily fresh air, beforesettling into the home office they'd set up for her where she worked until the end of each day. Jack had a treadmill in the garage, and she made use of it daily since she couldn’t visit the gym during this time. It was harder for Sloane and Piper - they had to give up all their extracurricular activities, as well as seeing friends outside of school. And they had to submit to regular testing. They grumbled but they understood and knew it wasn’t going to be like this forever.
In the evenings they gathered in the kitchen, cooking dinner together, talking about the day, Jack sharing whatever he could about their work at NASA. It had quickly become one of Jack’s favorite parts of the day, watching Bella sing and dance around the kitchen, while she cooked, the girls often joining in. Mindful that Jack needed to eat healthy, more so now than ever, Bella got creative with nutritious meals, slipping in the occasional treat. He and the crew had already picked their meal choices for the mission, and he’d managed to bring a few home to her and the girls, so they could sample the food. Piper took one taste and declared she’d rather have Big G’s lasagna.
The girls would usually head up to their rooms for homework and watching videos on TikTok before bedtime, Jack and Bella would take advantage of the quiet, and watch one of the many films the studios sent them; because they couldn’t go to the theater they got to watch the new releases from the comfort of home. Most nights they simply sat together in companionable silence, holding hands on the sofa, and that was enough. Jack had quietly set aside his occasional Laphroaig for the duration — pre-mission protocol — and Bella, not much of a drinker anyway, joined him without question. Because she wasn’t going out as much, Bella had gotten into the habit of saying “Fire up the Quattro” each morning when she booted upher computer. Jack had overheard, and asked about it, so she introduced him to “Life on Mars’, and he quickly became a fan.
The days ticked by. Both of them knew the time together was growing shorter. Finally, the night before he was to leave arrived. He’d be flying to Kennedy Space Center in the morning, on NASA aircraft - the T-38 Talon supersonic jet. The pilot in Jack was looking forward to the ride.
They’d discussed it and agreed the occasion warranted taking the girls from school and staying in Florida for the days he’d be in quarantine, so Bella booked a small house nearby for them so they wouldn’t be exposed to people. Neighbors would be looking after Primrose and Daisy while they were gone. Both Jack and Bella’s parents would arrive the night before the launch, as would Angela and Madeline. Carrie and her daughter Madison would also be there, to see Mike off.
Jack wanted breakfast for dinner - his traditional meal before leaving on a mission - so Bella, Sloane, and Piper made French Toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, along with a bowl of sliced melon. They toasted with orange juice. They kept up the conversation during dinner, laughing as always — inevitably at something Piper said. Daisy and Primrose hovered under the table, hoping for a dropped morsel they could pounce on. Piper slipped them both a piece of bacon when she thought no one was looking.
“Piper. How many times have I told you not to feed Daisy from the table? It’s not good for her, and she’s looking a little chunky.”
“Dad! Don’t fat shame her, you’ll give her a complex!”
Chiming in, Sloane said “Yeah, Dad, she’s just big boned!,” making everyone at the table laugh.
After dinner, Bella cleaned up, while Jack went to pack. He didn’t take much - most of what the crew needed for the next 14 days would be waiting for them in Florida. After getting the girls in bed, the dogs let out for the last time in the evening, Bella set the alarm system and locked up, knowing sleep would probably not come easily. She went into the bedroom, sat on the bed, and watched as Jack packed, double-checking everything.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
"I'm fine. It's only a few days and then we'll be there,” she replied. “Jack, can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Aren’t you scared? You’re so calm about it. Like you’re just going to the market for a loaf of bread and not the moon.”
"Yes, I'm scared. Every time I took off from an aircraft carrier I was scared — there is always that 'what if' in the back of your mind, but I have to tune that out.
Jim Lovell — astronaut, Naval aviator, test pilot, NASA legend — and I'm paraphrasing — but he said something like: 'You have to put the fear in a box — because if you think about what could go wrong, you'd never go at all.'
That's what I do. The fear goes in the box. Then I focus on the task at hand — then the next one, and the next — until it's time to come home. Does that make sense?"
“It does, you’re the bravest man I’ve ever known, Jack. I hope you know that’s one of the things I love about you.”
Jack set down the shirt he'd been folding and sat on the bed beside her, taking her hand.
“I need to say something before I go. The last year and a half with you have been some of the best times of my life. You’ve filled a hole I didn’t even know was there,” he paused. “I loveyou, more than I thought possible. If something happens, I want you to know I’ve cherished every second with you. My will and everything you might need — it's all in the safe in the office. The girls know all of this. I want you to promise to stay in the girls’ lives, they love you too, and they will need you.”
“Shh,” Bella said, putting a finger to his lips. “None of that tonight. All I want tonight is for you to make love to me. Can you do that?”
“Affirmative.” he said and pulled her closer.
The next morning Bella, Piper, and Sloane drove to Ellington Field, near Johnson Space Center, to see Jack and the crew off — Carrie would be there as well, to see Mike off.
Wow — there is so much press here. I wasn't expecting that. But it makes sense — this is a big deal.
She and the girls had to keep their distance, but that was fine with Bella. She watched on with a mixture of pride and fear, seeing Jack laugh and smile with his crew and the waiting press — completely at ease with the cameras and questions.
This man is a natural-born leader. They'd follow him anywhere, knowing he'd have their backs.
Jack climbed into the jet, the canopy came down, and she watched him hold up heart hands to them, mouthingI love you— before taxiing down the runway and lifting into the sky.
